June is National Safety Month, and a helpful reminder to reevaluate your on-site safety practices and make improvements where necessary. Whether it’s taking direct steps to address workplace impairments and injuries or adopting better health screening tools, there is always something that you can do to create a safer environment for your employees, and Safety Month is as good a time as any to get started.
Discover expert tips and beneficial knowledge, including the importance of health and safety in the workplace and safety changes that will help make an impact on your organization.
What is National Safety Month?
Safety Month is an annual observance dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of workplace safety and the various ways organizations can help eliminate the causes of preventable injuries and illnesses.
During the month-long event, originally founded by the National Safety Council (NSC), employers are encouraged to evaluate their existing safety practices and identify any areas in need of improvement. To help facilitate this, the NSC offers a variety of free resources on its website, including virtual first aid training, fleet safety driving courses, and workplace safety training courses.
A safer workplace is better for everyone. And to help you get there, we’re sharing some of our best quick tips for creating a safer, more productive work environment, with activities you can start doing right away to reduce the risk of injuries or illness.
Occupational Health and Safety Tips
You can never fully guarantee occupational safety, but there are plenty of actions you can taketo mitigate risks in your work environment. Here’s where to start.
1. Promote Employee Health Literacy
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear just how quickly misinformation can spread—and just how detrimental this can be to both individuals and workforces. Fortunately, employers can make a big difference.
NSC data shows that employers that “implemented policies to encourage, assist, or incentivize” the COVID vaccine saw significantly higher vaccination rates among employees, even without requiring proof of vaccination. This was especially true for employers that shared information about the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.
Use your influence and trust with employees for good by serving as a reliable resource for accurate health information. Then monitor compliance to see how well your efforts are working.
2. Use Training to Build a Culture of Workplace Safety
Comprehensive workplace safety training courses are one of the best ways to get everyone on the same page about expectations, protocols, and general safety practices.
It is essential that your employees know what’s expected of them and that they feel protected at work. Appropriate training is also their right as workers, as is having that training provided in a language they understand.
Don’t have internal training courses ready to go? Try out NSC courses, which are based on OSHA compliance regulations and global safety best practices.
3. Closely Monitor Workplace Safety Data
All workplaces are unique. So while industry statistics can help assess general risks, they can’t tell you much about the level of safety in your own work environment.
The only way to know what’s working and what’s not—and how well you’re doing on regulatory compliance—is to gather accurate data straight from the source. Use software to track things like employee immunizations, injuries, illnesses, exposures, certifications, training, and workplace medical surveillance testing, and give employees the tools to input relevant personal health data so you always have up-to-date information.
Having this data will help guide future safety protocols and clue you in on where improvements need to happen. It can also take a lot of the guesswork out of employee compliance since you’ll be able to see at a glance where the gaps are.
This National Safety Month, commit to providing your employees with a safer work environment. Benefits include an overall healthier workforce, higher productivity, less wasteful spending, and improved employee morale. And the more you prioritize your safety initiatives, the more of these benefits you’ll see in return.
Interested in data-driven employee health tools? Learn more about us and contact our team to learn about personalized employee health tracking solutions for your organization. Don’t forget to follow our news page to stay informed on all things health and safety.